Luke’s Favorite Films Take Two: #83

#83: Twister (1996)

Director: Jan de Bont
Starring: Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton and Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Academy Awards: Nominated twice. Best Sound and Best Visual Effects.
Plot: “Bill and Jo Harding, advanced storm chasers on the brink of divorce, must join together to create an advanced weather alert system by putting themselves in the cross-hairs of extremely violent tornadoes.”
Stock: Up
Previous Ranking: #97

“You’ve never seen it miss this house, and miss that house, and come after you!”

Epic movies in the 1920s look different from epic movies in the 2000s. Technology plays an important role in how those titanic-like films are made. But make no mistake, epic movies – no matter what generation – are still just that … epic.

Twister was an epic 1990s movie. It had drama, suspense, and earth-shattering images that at the time were unprecedented. It made you feel as if you were right there with the tremendous tornadoes bearing down on towns, destroying everything in their way.

I thoroughly enjoyed putting this list together for various reasons. A small reason why was because I liked thinking back to when I first saw a particular film and who I watched it with. Sometimes who you are watching it with creates a shared experience that makes a film more memorable than if you were just watching it by yourself.

I first watched Twister during a sleepover with my two best friends. Not gonna lie, I was a little frightened when I first saw those massive tornadoes. But it made for a memorable experience, one that certainly help it crack this list.

UPDATE

What people tend to forget in Twister is how good the supporting cast was. Besides Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, this film had a strong ensemble. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Cary Elwes, Jami Gertz, Alan Ruck and Jeremy Davies help round out a terrific group of actors.

Twister is definitely a film on the rise in this list. It was a last second add back in 2011 and since then is steadily moving up. Wouldn’t be surprised at all to see it in the top-sixty four years from now.

Fun Fact: A recording of a camel’s moan was slowed down and used as the sound of the tornado.

Hint for #82: Scott Hall saw this film, probably at least twice.

Peace Be The Journey.